A former gymnastics coach has been jailed 18 years in for the rape and sexual offences against two young girls he taught
Michael Haynes 76, of Barnfield, Urmston, was sentenced to 18 years in prison after he was found guilty of 9 counts of rape and 11 counts of sexual assault against two girls after a 4-week trial at Manchester Crown Court.
During the trial, which concluded last week, the court heard how in the late 80s, one of the victims, who was 11 at the time, joined Trafford School of Gymnastics. It was at the club that Haynes first sexually assaulted the victim by inappropriately touching her through her clothing while appearing to help her with stretching exercises.
This progressed over time from sexual touching to rape with offences occurring in his vehicle whilst he was assisting the victim’s family to transport her to and from the gymnastics club.
In December 2023, another woman learned that Haynes was to stand trial for sexual offences and bravely came forward to the police to report what happened to her.
When she was around 12 years old, she had already been at the gymnastics school for years with Haynes. He began inappropriately asking her about relationships with other boys her age and proceeded to touch her leg before sexually assaulting her.
The victims courageously released parts of their impact statements, which were read in court, to show the effects of the abuse they suffered from Haynes
One of the victims said: “Michael Haynes violated boundaries I hadn’t yet learned how to name. I didn’t understand what had happened – or how I felt about it. I just knew something had shifted in me. Something had been taken by someone I trusted, and I carried confusion and shame for many years.
“I still live with the effects of what happened, but I also live with pride in who I’ve become. All you have left now is shame.”
The other victim in this case said: “I joined your gym, at the age of 10/11 years old, a young kind-hearted child with the hopes and dreams of being a British Gymnast. When the abuse started shortly after, I felt lost and scared, and I have carried the weight and worry through life ever since.
“Through the power of social media and relevant documentaries, I have been comforted and inspired by the stories of other victims and their coping mechanisms. I have identified with their thoughts and struggles whilst learning to process what happened. This understanding, acceptance and sense of solidarity have eventually allowed me to take this step forward and report the abuse I suffered all those years ago.”
